Näsudden

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Näsudden is a peninsula on the south coast of Gotland, Sweden. The first tests for using wind power on a large scale in Sweden, were conducted there in the 1970s. The area has since been developed into a wind farm. Part of the peninsula is a nature reserve for birds and grey seals.GeographyNäsudden is a peninsula on the south coast of Gotland, Sweden, adjacent the localities of Näs, Fide and Burgsvik. Näsudden had a weather station between 1986 and 1999. During this period, during a late summer heat wave of 1997 Näsudden broke the nationwide record for consecutive overnight lows above 20C and a yearly record for those nights. Between August 20 and September 3 the temperature never fell below 20.2C, but also never rose above 25.3C during the day.Wind powerIt was on Näsudden that wind power on a large scale was first tested in Sweden. The Swedish power company Vattenfall, started to explore and develop wind power in the 1970s, and southern Gotland was selected as a suitable location for tests in 1979. Construction of a prototype wind turbine, the Näsudden I, started in the beginning of the 1980s. The prototype was ready and started in 1983. The collecting of data from the trial runs and evaluation of the project was financed by the Swedish government. The study became the base for further research in wind power technology in Sweden. Näsudden I was in operation until 1989, when it was replaced by Näsudden II.